Petőcz Kálmán (szerk.): National Populism and Slovak - Hungarian Relations in Slovakia 2006-2009 (Somorja, 2009)
Annex
Annex - Marie Vrabcová On the other hand, the questions asked by Malinová clearly indicate what the interrogators used to intimidate her as she repeatedly asked them what would happen to her and whether they really intended to detain her. Contrary to provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedures, Peter Horák who conducted the questioning did not allow Malinová to describe what had happened in her own words; instead, he tried to put certain sentences in her mouth. Later, he explained that he did so in order to make her “stick to the storyline”. Malinová repeatedly tried to explain how her saliva could have appeared on the envelope but she was not allowed to finish; also, she repeatedly emphasized that she did not remember whether she had made a telephone call but the interrogators did not seem to pay much attention. The videotapes show that Horák asked questions one by another but they were not featured in the transcript; as a result, the transcript makes it seem that the witness recounted everything herself and got entangled in her own lies although the video clearly reveals that she was almost hushed at times. Toward the end, the investigator asked her the compulsory question of whether she wanted to add anything before he would ask her additional and specifying questions. Again, Malinová wanted to speak of the saliva sample that was found on the envelope but Horák interrupted her by saying “Later” and continued to ask her further questions to which Malinová responded by words such as maybe, perhaps, I don’t know, I don’t remember or no. Pressure duRiiNq íinterrocíatíon The video clearly shows that other persons who attended the interrogation - and who were contrary to the law not identified in the transcript - also asked questions of the witness although this competence rests solely with the case investigator. When questioned at the Office of Attorney General, they explained that these were merely “additional questions that were supposed to help the case investigator regarding certain details where they had acted as operatives”. The transcript included neither their questions nor Malinová’s responses to them. According to recording clerk Klaudia Caládiová, it was because she did not write down questions and answers but rather summarizations of particular sections of the interrogation that were dictated to her by the case investigator. All testimonies by policemen who appeared before the Office of Attorney General in December 2007 differed over how many of them had been present at the interrogation of Malinová on September 9, 2006. A comparison of their testimonies showed that besides Horák who conducted the interrogation and Caládiová who made the transcript there were also 316
